Isolated Elusive Fullerene and Lanthanoid Complex Species: Optical Spectroscopy in Cryogenic Matrixes and Low-Temperature STM

Elusive molecular species are studied with optical spectroscopy in cryogenic noble gas matrixes and with low-temperature STM. The existing apparatus for isolating elusive and reactive species in cryogenic matrixes is improved, enabling optical spectroscopy of previously inaccessible, mass-selected fullerene and azafullerene ions in unusual charge states, as well as electrosprayed complex ions. Vibronic excitations of single C60 and endohedral H2@C60 molecules on CuN surfaces are studied by STM.